Director of Advanced Assembly Engineering

Location : 3200 Fruit Ridge Ave, Walker, MI 49544

Who We Are:

Challenge is a leading employee-owned tier 1 supplier of complex metal assemblies for the global automotive industry. Challenge fosters a culture of collaboration, diversity, and innovation. We believe the best ideas come from individual unique perspectives. These ideas combined with the teamwork of industry experts allow us to accomplish any challenge. Our team members take pride in the work we do every day and they are the true driving force in our operations.

Challenge is proud to be one of the largest employee-owned automotive companies in North America. One of the many benefits of joining the Challenge team is the ESOP program. This program allows Challenge to give shares of the Company to all employee-owners annually. These shares are an additional retirement benefit that will continue to grow during your time at Challenge. Being part of an ESOP means our employee-owners share in Challenge’s success!

Challenge is #PeoplePowered and #EmployeeOwned !

Who We Want:

The Director of Advanced Assembly Engineering leads the Assembly Project Engineering Group and is responsible for ensuring that new manufacturing process design meets the Challenge and customer requirements for safety, quality and productivity.  The Director of Advanced Assembly Engineering is responsible for the performance of Challenge’s automated assembly equipment from the quoting phase to the production phase

What You'll Do:

  • Provide project leadership and drive all aspects of project launch from quoting to production.
  • Manage build shops to ensure project is on time and the automated equipment is built per CMC’s machine standards.
  • Meet with build shop weekly to maintain an open-issue report and a MS project timeline
  • Review and approve tooling designs, system layouts, control design, and weld documentation.
  • Work with the manufacturing engineer and quality engineer to complete part builds at the build shops
  • Supports Tech reviews / pre-source meetings with potential suppliers
  • Creates initial tooling requisitions and sourcing of new assembly equipment and tooling.
  • Approves department purchase requisitions.
  • Hiring and performance reviews or advanced engineering.
  • Manage industrial engineers (plant layout for new equipment and material)

When and Where:

This will be a 1st Shift / 8AM-5PM M-F position located at our Corporate Office in Walker, MI. 

What You Need to Have:

  • Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering or equivalent experience in similar management role
  • Robotics experience is a plus (Fanuc and ABB)
  • Experience and understanding of Weld schedules (spot, projection, MIG, drawn arc)
  • Experience and understanding of GD&T
  • CAD design experience (Solid works experience is a plus)
  • NAAMS assembly tooling standards
  • Experience and understanding of automotive underbody components
  • Controls Experience (Allen Bradley RSlogix500 and RSlogix5000 programming is a plus)
  • Master’s degree in engineering or other scientific field of study preferred
  • 2 plus years of project management experience working for a Tier 1 or Tier 2 supplier preferred
  • 2 plus years of experience with automotive underbody resistance and MIG welding preferred
  • Experience with laser welding equipment and processes preferred
  • Experience with latest attachment technology preferred (i.e., Henrob self-piercing rivet and Weber flow drill screw)
  • Has high standards of performance for self.
  • Takes responsibility for actions, results, and mistakes.
  • Is thorough, accurate, and reliable when performing and completing job tasks; demonstrates honesty and integrity in all aspects of work.
  • Takes positive action to objectively resolve conflict by listening, staying focused on issue to find resolution, and monitoring progress.
  • Maintains positive relationships by constructively resolving conflicts.
  • Uses feedback from others to continuously improve performance and work relationships.
  • Moves within own and/or other work areas (flexes) to support plant flow.
  • Works with sense of urgency to meet needs of customers.
  • Has necessary experience, skills, and knowledge to perform all aspects of job; rotates through all job responsibilities.
  • Maintains knowledge and skills to perform job effectively.
  • Has ability to focus on benefits of change and see it as positive; approaches change or newness in constructive/objective manner; views change as learning opportunity.
  • Works collaboratively with others; shares information and knowledge.
  • Is at work when scheduled and ensures coverage when absent; takes timely breaks/lunches; uses time wisely.
  • Knowledge of Automated MIG and Spot Welding
  • Work on closing open issues with build shops before cell buy off and hand off to manufacturing facility.
  • Experience with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Project) required
  • Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills

What We Offer:

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, Health Savings Account with annual employer contributions, Flexible Spending Accounts, Company-Paid Short-Term Disability and Basic Life, Voluntary Life and LTD, Employer 401k Match, ESOP shares, tuition reimbursement, and paid time off.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.